Navajo Code Talkers

Question #1:

What does the word transmission mean as it is used in paragraph 2?

• communication

• disappearance

• invention

• replacement

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CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Question #2:

How does the author introduce the idea that the Navajo language could be used to create a secret code?

• by explaining how the Navajo used children as interpreters when traveling to meet with government officials

• by discussing the failures of other Native American language codes that were used before the Navajo language was finally chosen

• by describing Philip Johnston’s childhood growing up with the Navajo people and how he thought their language could be used for a code

• by providing examples of how foreign students first discovered Native Americans using the Navajo language to communicate

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

Question #3:

What does the author mean by the phrase “took the code to the next level” in paragraph 7?

• The Marine Corps showed the code to others.

• The Marine Corps made more improvements to the code.

• The Marine Corps hid the code in a high place.

• The Marine Corps trained more people to learn the code.

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CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Question #4:

Part A: What is a central idea of the passage?

• The Navajo Code Talkers converted the Navajo alphabet into an easily understood code that matched the English alphabet.

• The military used the Navajo language to create a secret code during World War II.

• The military was concerned that their secret code using the Navajo language would be discovered during World War II.

• The Navajo Code Talkers worked long hours translating coded messages during World War II.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Question #5:

Which detail from the passage provides support for the information in Part A?

• A. “During World War II, the Marine Corps used one of the thousands of languages spoken in the world to create an unbreakable code: Navajo.” (paragraph 1)

• B. “They were afraid the code would be easily cracked, but that was before they learned about the complexity of Navajo.” (paragraph 3)

• C. “In addition, an alphabet system was also developed by the Code Talkers. It would be used to spell out some of the words not found in Navajo vocabulary.” (paragraph 9)

• D. “Their primary job was to transmit tactical information over telephone and radio. During the invasion of Iwo Jima, six Navajo Code Talkers were operating continuously.” (paragraph 11)

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

Question #6:

How does paragraph 13 contribute to the development of ideas in the passage?

• It shows that the Code Talkers were celebrated for their bravery when they returned home from war.

• It shows that many presidents were impacted by the work of the Code Talkers.

• It shows that the work of the Code Talkers was not acknowledged until many years afterwards.

• It shows that very few Code Talkers made it home safely after the war.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Question #7:

What claim does the author make regarding why the Navajo language was used for the code?

• The Navajo language was chosen for the creation of the code because very few Navajo people were still alive.

• The Navajo language was selected to create the code because it was developed specifically for that purpose.

• The Navajo language was an obvious choice to create the code because it was constantly changing and developing.

• The Navajo language was the best choice for the creation of the code because so few people could speak it.

Question #8:

What is the author’s purpose for including the charts in the passage?

• to provide an example of the most commonly translated words

• to encourage readers to create their own coded messages

• to show an actual translated message from battle

• to present a sample of what made the code unbreakable

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.K.5

Question #9:

How does the author’s inclusion of the charts help to convey the overall purpose of the passage?

• The charts provide an example of the most commonly translated words.

• The charts encourage readers to create their own coded messages.

• The charts show an actual translated message from battle.

• The charts present a sample of what made the code unbreakable.

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.K.5

Question #10:

Which choice supports the inference that the Code Talkers were relied upon heavily during battle?

• “A skeptical lieutenant decided to test their skills and the code before trusting them to deliver actual combat messages.” (paragraph 10)

• “From then on, the Code Talkers were used in every major operation involving the Marines in the Pacific theater.” (paragraph 11)

• “Their primary job was to transmit tactical information over telephone and radio.” (paragraph 11)

• “They sent more than 800 messages.” (paragraph 11)

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2